File-box.



No. 655,799. I Patented Aug. I4, 1900.

L. E. REYNOLDS.

FILE BOX.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 1899.

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. IIMTED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

LEANDER E. REYNOLDS, or GRAND RArIDs, MICHIGAN.

FILE-Box.

SPECIFICATION a ming ea of Letters Patent Ne. 655,799, dated August 14,1900.

' Application filed December 16, 1899; Serial ITO-740309. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEANDER E. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of lvlichigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in File-Boxes, and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in file-boxes, and moreparticularly to that class of file-boxes known as the drop-front, inwhich the front of the box is hinged and adapted to turn downward andexpose the contents thereof; and its objects are to provide means forautomatically moving the contents of the box forward and outward whenthe front is lowered, to provide a support for the front when turneddownward, to simplify the construction, and to provide the device withcertain new and useful features hereinafter more fullydescribed,andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

My device consists, essentially, of a front attached to a hinged plateand a second plate slidable longitudinally upon the hinged plate andhaving at the rear a vertical wall and rods connecting the front withthe vertical wall, whereby as the front is lowered the sliding plate andthe rear wall are automatically moved forward, as hereinafter more fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective ofa case containing four of my improved boxes with a portion of the casebroken away to show the construction of the box and one of the saidboxes opened,as for inspection of the contents thereof. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the same through the middle of two ofthe boxes, and Fig. 3 an enlarged detail of one of the corner-braces.

Like letters refer to like parts in all of the figures. a Y I Arepresents a suitable case to contain four of my improved boxes, whichcase may be for any convenient number of boxes and forms no part of myinvention.

13 represents the front panels of the boxes,at-

at substantially right angles when the same is drawn outof the case asuflicient distance. D is a similar plate to support the contents of thebox superposed upon the plate 0 and slidable thereon and provided with arear wall G at right angles thereto, and also prov-ided with alongitudinal slot E,-having an enlarged rear portion E to permit theinsertion and engagement of a flanged eyelet F, rigidly secured in thebottom (J, which eyeletserves to guide and hold the sliding plate D asit-moves upon the plate 0. In the re spective angles between the front Band the hinged portion of the plate 0 are an gle-braces I, formed ofsuitable material, preferably of sheet metal, and provided with suitableflanges K for securing the same to the respective front B and plate 0,and openings 1 for pivotal engagement of the rods J, which rods extendin parallel lines to the upper end of angle-braces H in the angle of thesliding plateD and the rear wall G, these braces being also providedwith suitable flanges K for attachment to the plateD and rear wall G.The upper portions of these angle-braces H are also provided withhorizontal slots II, through which the rod J extends continuously and atright angles to its parallel sides,.as at J, and in which slots it hassufficient movement to permitthe front to move downward a sufficientdistance to "be out of the way of the contents of the box before thesame begin to move outward. The rods J, it will be seen, also serve as asupport for the front by engagement with the case, as shown in Fig. 2.This rod consists of a wire pivotally-secured at its respective ends tothe upper part of the angle-plates I, and thence extending back andpassing through the slots H in the angleplates H and thence across therear of the box. I

The plates G and D and rear wall G can be made of any suitable material,preferably of thin millboard, and the flanges K of the anglebraces HandI are secured thereto by means of spurs L, struck up from theflanges, as

B by suitable nails or screws passing through the flanges K instead ofby spurs. It will be observed that when the box is drawn forward but ashort distance the front thereof can be turned downward out of the way,and this movement automatically brings the rear wall G and the slidingplate D forward, which plate supports the contents of the box, thusprojecting the same outward in convenient position for inspection orremoval. In like manner when the box-front is closed the contentsthereof are carried back and out of the Way, also when the box is openedthe. front thereof is well supported by means of the rods J also by thisconstruction the angle-braces form a strong and durable fastening tosupport the front B and the wall G at right angles to the plates 0 andD. The box having practically no obstruction at the sides will fullyexpose the contents for inspection and access and take up less room thanboxes having sides.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination ofa divided and hinged bottom plate, a front wallsecured to the said plate, a plate slidable on the hinged bottom plate,a vertical rear wall attached to the slidable plate, and rods connectingthe front and the rear walls, substantially as described.

2. The combination ofa divided and hinged bottom plate, a front attachedthereto, a sliding plate on the hinged bottom plate, a vertical rearwall on the sliding plate, slotted angle-braces connecting the rear walland sliding plate, and rods pivoted to the front and engaging the slotsin said angle-braces,

substantially as described.

3. The combination of a transversely-di-- vided plate having a hinge, asliding plate restingthereon, a front wall attached to the front end ofthe divided plate, a rear wall attached to the rear end of the slidingplate, slotted braces connecting the sliding plate and the rear wall,angle-braces connecting the front wall and the divided plate, and rodspivotally connected to the front angle-braces and engaging the slots inthe rear anglebraces and movable therein, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a transversely-di vided plate having a hinge, anda flanged eyelet therein, afront wall attached to the front end of thehinged plate, a sliding plate resting on the divided plate and having aslot engaging the eyelet, a vertical wall attached to the rear end ofthe sliding plate, anglebraces connecting the sliding plate and the rearwall, and provided with slots, anglebraces connecting the front and thedivided plate and provided with openings, and rods pivotally engagingthe openings and movably engaging the slots,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature

